LGBTQ+ Voices in Literature

Join us as we celebrate LGBTQ+ authors and stories. The evening sponsored by Wicklow Pride and hosted by Bridge Street Books will include readings and a Q&A with special guest authors Helen Corcoran and Jaime O’Connell. The event will include an open mic opportunity for aspiring writers to share their original stories or poetry.

A little about the Authors:

Helen Corcoran:

Helen grew up in Cork, Ireland, dreaming of scheming queens and dashing lady knights. After graduating from Trinity College, Dublin, she worked as a bookseller for over a decade. She lives in Dublin, writing fantasy novels and haunting coffee shops in search of the perfect latte. Her first novel, Queen of Coin and Whispers, was published to rave reviews and its sequel, Daughter of Winter and Twilight, was shortlisted for the Teen and Young Adult Book of the Year at the 2023 Irish Book Awards.

Jamie O'Connell:

Jamie is the author of the best-selling novel, Diving for Pearls (Doubleday UK). Diving for Pearls was runner-up for The Gordon Bowker Volcano Prize (The Society of Authors 2022) and short-listed for The Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year (The Irish Book Awards 2021). To date, his work has been Highly Commended by the Costa Short Story Award and the An Post Irish Book Award Writing.ie Short Story of the Year. He has been long-listed for BBC Radio 4 Opening Lines Short Story Competition and short-listed for the Maeve Binchy Travel Award and the Sky Arts Futures Fund.

Jamie's short fiction has been published in a number of journals, featured on TV3, RTE Radio and BBC Radio, and he has read at many festivals and universities in Ireland, China, Spain and the USA. He has received bursaries from The Arts Council of Ireland, Culture Ireland, Dublin City Council and Cork City Council. Jamie has taught creative writing in University College Dublin and as part of the University of Iowa’s Irish Summer School.

This event is brought to you free of charge courtesy of Wicklow Pride. Limited capacity so please secure your free ticket via eventbrite. Donations welcome.

There will be a sign-up sheet at the event for those wishing to share an original poem or short story. The sign-up sheet will be available from the time the doors open till through intermission. All readings must be 3 minutes or less. Space is limited.

Drinks and light snacks will be provided. Doors should open by 7:15pm.

Host or Publisher Wicklow Pride Festival